garden recycling

Garden
recycling is a great way to inspire interest
in the environment especially with kids.
Finding creative ways to help our earth is
not only fun but also easy to do. When
you combine "fun" and "easy" you're sure to
grab the attention of kids.

Garden
Recycling with Compost and Mulch

1.
Most people begin with compost.
Reusing grass clippings, leaves, garden
waste, newspapers, and kitchen scraps in the
compost pile is a good way to encourage
garden recycling. Compost helps create
healthy soil and vigorous garden plants.

2. Kids
also enjoy the chance to help by collecting
some of these key ingredients and adding
them to the compost pile. In fact,
explain the most important role that
earthworms play in maintaining healthy soil,
and instruct kids to spot them digging in
the garden to throw in the compost heap..

3.
You can also encourage garden recycling by
reusing leaves, pine needles, shredded bark,
and similar organic materials. For
instance, rather than burning piles of
leaves each fall, put them in the garden and
reuse them as environment friendly mulch.

4. Encourage
the help of kids by giving them a rake of
their own and allowing them to rake leaves
with you. Let them play in the pile
before you put them in the garden.
Alternatively, items such as shredded tires,
and even newspapers can be recycled and used
as mulch

Garden Recycling
with Everyday Items

1.
A fun way to encourage kids to recycle is by
reusing ordinary, everyday items in the
garden. Kids can recycle objects for
use as containers, garden art, and other
interesting accessories. This only
takes imagination, which kid's naturally
have plenty of. Old flowerpots and
other everyday items can easily be
transformed into containers for plants.

2.
Another great way to recycle in the garden
is by using rain barrels. Simply use
any container you already have on hand and
place it somewhere, such as beneath a rain
gutter spout, to collect rain water, which
is filled with nutrients. Use this
water on garden plants. This conserves
water and eliminates runoff. Not only
will the plants thank you, but so will the
environment.

3.
Growing seeds can be made easier and more
fun by reusing egg cartons (styrofoam works
best). Have the kids cut off the top
and set it aside for later use. Then
have them poke small drainage holes in each
of the egg holders along the bottom piece.
Next, fill them up with a mix of compost and
potting soil and plant a few seeds in each
one. Place the top piece beneath the
bottom and water thoroughly.
Your kids now have their own "mini seed
pots" and a built-in tray for catching
excess water. These can be re-used
again and again.

4.
Encourage wildlife in the garden by adding
recycled habitat homes. Old pots and
containers can make nifty frog houses in the
garden. Use shallow dishes for bird
feeders and baths. Pollinating insects
will also benefit from having shallow water
spots in the garden.

5.
Don't throw out those ice-pop sticks in the
summer. Reuse them as labels to help
teach kids plant names.